Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Professor Lauren Feldman has been named chair of the Journalism and Media Studies Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information effective January 1, 2025. She will succeed Distinguished Professor and Chair of Journalism and Media Studies Amy Jordan.

“I have no doubt that Lauren Feldman will continue to build on the strong foundations built in the department by the previous chairs and most recently by Amy Jordan, the outgoing outstanding chair, and lead the talented and dedicated faculty members through the challenges facing the department and higher education more generally,” said SC&I Interim Dean Dafna Lemish. “Her thoughtfulness, collaborative spirit, and scholarly standing in the academic community are highly respected and I am looking forward to working with her closely!”

Jordan said, “The Department of Journalism and Media Studies is fortunate to have Lauren Feldman at its helm. Dr. Feldman is an exceptionally talented researcher, thoughtful teacher/mentor, and patient leader. She is well-positioned to champion the field to current and prospective majors. She will be a terrific representative of our faculty’s scholarship and interests to the school, the university, and the broader communities we serve.”

Feldman's recent research on climate change communication investigates the influence of media and communication on political divides and misperceptions about climate change; the role of efficacy and solutions-focused messages in driving climate policy support and political activism; and how entertainment and comedy can be used to broaden public engagement with climate change.

Feldman's recent research on climate change communication investigates the influence of media and communication on political divides and misperceptions about climate change; the role of efficacy and solutions-focused messages in driving climate policy support and political activism; and how entertainment and comedy can be used to broaden public engagement with climate change.

She teaches courses on entertainment and politics, media effects, media and climate change, and quantitative research methods. 

With Caty Borum Chattoo, Feldman is co-author of the book, “A Comedian and An Activist Walk into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice” (University of California Press, 2020), which examines the intersection of comedy and activism. The book explains how contemporary comedy – both in the entertainment marketplace and leveraged as cultural strategy – can engage audiences with issues such as global poverty, climate change, immigration, and racial justice, and how activists work with comedy to reach and empower publics in the networked, participatory digital media age.

Feldman teaches courses on entertainment and politics, media effects, media and climate change, and quantitative research methods. 

Feldman is an affiliate of the Rutgers Climate Institute and of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. 

At SC&I she is a member of two research groups, the Behavioral Informatics Lab and the Health and Wellness Cluster.

“I am honored to take on this new role,” Feldman said. “It is an exciting and important time to be studying journalism and media, and I look forward to supporting our students and faculty and working with them on new initiatives that will build on the existing strengths of our department.”

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.